The St. Louis Blues have acquired center Kevin Hayes from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft. The trade was announced on Tuesday, just a day before the first round of the draft. As part of the deal, the Flyers will retain half of Hayes’ $7.14 million salary cap hit for the next three years.
The addition of Hayes provides the Blues with depth at the center position as they aim to make a return to the playoffs next season. The 31-year-old forward brings a wealth of experience to a team that won the Stanley Cup four seasons ago.
Hayes, who has played nearly 700 NHL games, signed a seven-year, $50 million contract with the Flyers in 2019. He quickly became a fan favorite during his four seasons in Philadelphia, scoring 23 goals in his first year and earning an All-Star selection this past season. Despite his success on the ice, Hayes had some disagreements with Flyers coach John Tortorella, leading to occasional healthy scratches and benchings.
With the Flyers undergoing a rebuilding process under new management led by general manager Danny Briere, Hayes became expendable. The team is looking toward the future and shedding the contracts of expensive veterans like Hayes and defenseman Ivan Provorov.
Throughout his career, Hayes has recorded 155 goals and 386 points while playing for teams such as the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets. He has earned praise for his play on the ice and for his resilience in the face of personal tragedy following the passing of his brother, former NHL player Jimmy Hayes, before the 2021 season.
On Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired veteran winger Taylor Hall from the Boston Bruins in a trade that cleared cap space for the Bruins and provided the Blackhawks with an experienced player to pair with top draft pick Connor Bedard.
The trade involved the Blackhawks sending pending restricted free agents Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula to Boston in exchange for Hall and forward Nick Foligno. The Blackhawks also agreed to terms with Foligno on a $4 million deal for the next season.
Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson expressed excitement about adding players of Hall and Foligno’s caliber to the organization, emphasizing their experience and leadership qualities. Hall, 31 years old, recorded 16 goals and 20 assists in 61 games during the last season, along with five goals and three assists in seven playoff games. He was originally selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL draft and has since played for several teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, and the Bruins. Throughout his 13-season career, Hall has accumulated 264 goals and 429 assists.
Chicago is expected to choose Bedard as this year’s No. 1 draft pick. The addition of Hall to the team’s top line would provide Bedard with valuable experience and support as he transitions to the NHL.
In terms of the salary cap, Hall carries a $6 million cap hit over the next two seasons. However, the Blackhawks, currently in a rebuilding phase, are more focused on meeting the salary floor rather than the cap ceiling. Since Hall did not have the Blackhawks on his no-trade list, the trade could be completed without his consent.
Foligno, 35 years old, recorded 10 goals and 16 assists in 60 games last season. Given Chicago’s financial situation, the team may attempt to convince him to forgo free agency and sign a short-term contract above market value.
The trade allows Boston to potentially re-sign Tyler Bertuzzi, who proved to be a good fit for the team after being acquired from the Detroit Red Wings at the trade deadline. Bertuzzi contributed 16 points in 21 regular-season games and 10 points in seven playoff games during the first round.
The Blackhawks already have a strong pool of defense prospects, and Mitchell and Regula struggled to secure regular playing time in the NHL lineup. Mitchell, 24 years old and a second-round pick in 2017, has recorded four goals and 12 assists in 82 games over three seasons, while Regula, 22 years old and a third-round pick in 2018, has scored one goal in 22 NHL appearances.
In a separate trade involving restricted free agents, the Bruins traded forward Shane Bowers to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Reilly Walsh.
